Header$type=social_icons

Pacquiao Bows Out Victorious Over Bradley

SHARE:

It was difficult to project that Timothy Bradley (33-2-1, 13 KO) would win. Bradley is a solid enough competitor that on a good day he can certainly be competitive with Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KO), for that is the nature of competition at an elite level, but it is clear that he should never be favoured.

It was difficult to project that Timothy Bradley (33-2-1, 13 KO) would win. Bradley is a solid enough competitor that on a good day he can certainly be competitive with Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KO), for that is the nature of competition at an elite level, but it is clear that he should never be favoured.

For with Bradley, there is no attribute that he possesses that would correlate with a strategy to win. He lacked the quick feet and length of Mayweather that would allow him to manage Pacquiao from the outside. He lacked the timing and straight punching to counter Pacquiao a la Marquez and Mayweather. Mayweather's strategy with Pacquiao was something that he had learned to implement at an early age. With Bradley, however, he is now learning to be more technical in his approach following the recent acquisition of Teddy Atlas.

Whereas Mayweather could position himself at a distance to use his touch jab to measure Pacquiao and offset his timing, Bradley's reach was such that he needed more forward movement to get his jab to the target. His right hand was frequently short of the target when leading, then late and wide when countering.

Twice Bradley was knocked down – in rounds seven and nine – by light punches due to him yet again having problems with balance against Pacquiao. This was likely attributable to Pacquiao's speed. Against the likes of Marquez and Provodnikov, Bradley initiated foot movement against these slower-footed punchers. Pacquiao, however, was doing the initiating and Bradley's feet were having to respond at a quicker pace that what he had been conditioned.

But again, besides being quicker than Bradley, Mayweather used his long jab to measure and control Pacquiao's advances so he could better anticipate them; Marquez wanted to hold his ground to counter and take chances on being hit himself. (Marquez endured punishment every time he fought Pacquiao.)

Taking the Mayweather approach of not wanting to be in the wheelhouse, Bradley's offense was mainly non-existent, except in spurts in the latter half when he realized he was desperately behind. Then, Bradley was more aggressive and more willing to engage, which created opportunities to land. Indeed, Bradley was always most effective when he had Pacquiao going backwards.

Where Bradley failed in his seconds encounter was that his aggression was unmeasured and every punch was wide with full steam. Here, on the few occasions where Bradley was aggressive, his punches were straighter with less effort, something that he could have sustained here better than the last time where he completely fatigued by the sixth round.

Being overly cautious, Bradley was not the active straight-punching stalker that would have forced Pacquiao to think and counter, something that he is not used to doing himself. Another problem, focusing solely on circling and moving backwards, but ineffectively, Bradley rarely moved his head. That gave Pacquiao confidence to step in with his straight left hand when he sensed Bradley was too slow to respond.

History is partly to blame. Bradley's history of concussion following his meeting with Provodnikov, his near knockout with Jessie Vargas, the bruising sustained against Diego Chaves: all of these things culminated in an overly cautious wife and trainer who undid one of Bradley's strengths – that he is more effective when his volume is higher.

Pacquiao won a unanimous decision with all cards 116-110 in his favor, which may have been generous for Bradley. Pacquiao remains uncommitted to whether or not he will fight again.

TheSportMatrix | We Live For Sport: Pacquiao Bows Out Victorious Over Bradley

Pacquiao Bows Out Victorious Over Bradley

It was difficult to project that Timothy Bradley (33-2-1, 13 KO) would win. Bradley is a solid enough competitor that on a good day he can certainly be competitive with Manny Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KO), for that is the nature of competition at an elite level, but it is clear that he should never be favoured.